Show cause notice issued to BAI

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The Union Sports Ministry on Wednesday issued a show cause notice to the Badminton Association of India (BAI) and sought an explanation on why it should not be de-recognised.

The show cause notice follows a similar warning issued to Hockey India and Indian Hockey Federation. The Government has given BAI 14 days to reply.

In a communication to the BAI, the Sports Ministry Director (Sports) Deepika Kachhal raised various objections over the administration of the game.

The show cause notice said the BAI had not informed the Government about its Annual General Meeting and Elections well in advance. It slammed the BAI president (Mr. V. K. Verma) for giving a totally distorted and misleading picture to the member units regarding financial assistance from the government and private sponsors and the implications of losing government recognition.

The BAI, the show cause notice asserted, had been availing government assistance for conducting national coaching camps, holding national and international championships in India, participation of national teams in training and competitions abroad and purchase of equipment under the scheme of assistance to national sports federations.

On BAI’s claims that it was financially self-sufficient, the Government observed, “even if BAI becomes financially independent, it does not entitle it to treat Government as an outsider, as sports is a public good and sports development is a public service and therefore, no sports federation can claim that it can act as private body without public accountability.”

The letter said, “the BAI president has written in derogatory terms about Government of India (GOI) by stating that IOC has issued a show cause notice to GOI on the tenure issue. Government recognition to any National Sports Federation is subject to compliance with the Government guidelines (for age and tenure).”

The Government added, “By electing Mr. V. K. Verma, the BAI has violated the orders issued on tenure limit in respect of president of a recognised National Sports federation.”

The government guidelines limit the president’s tenure to 12 years and Mr. Verma did not qualify to contest accordingly.

The show cause notice also said that the BAI elections had not been conducted in fair, democratic and transparent manner as per reports submitted by Government Observer, returning Officer and the two institutional members — Railway Sports Promotion Board and Association of Indian Universities.

Citing the charges, the Government noted, “BAI is hereby called upon to explain why Government of India’s recognition should not be withdrawn from BAI forthwith. Why the Government should not take up the matter with Registrar of Societies for withdrawing / removing the word “India” from the BAI as it is not compliant with the Government guidelines.”